Self-organizing networks (SON) for mobility robustness optimization (MRO) and automatic network slice creation

Abstract

Some embodiments of this disclosure include apparatuses and methods for applying mobility robustness optimization (MRO) and automatic network slice creation in 5G Self-Organizing Networks (SON). A network system may identify user equipment (UE) performing a handover from a first node to a second node. The network system may apply a MRO function to identify a target parameter corresponding to the handover. The network system may monitor connection measurements and/or radio link failure reports to identify the handover as failing to meet the target parameter. The network system may then modify the target parameter to facilitate the handover to the second node. For the automatic creation of a network slice instance (NSI), a network system may receive network slice specifications and apply the specifications to an automatic NSI creation function. The network system may instantiate network functions according to the automatic NSI creation function to create an NSI.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 identifying a user equipment (UE) performing a handover from a first node to a second node; 
 applying a first mobility robustness optimization (MRO) function to identify a target parameter corresponding to the handover, wherein the target parameter includes a message exchange timing corresponding to messages exchanged between the UE and the second node to execute the handover; 
 monitoring one or more connection measurements and one or more radio link failure reports corresponding to the handover; 
 identifying the handover as failing to meet the target parameter based on an analysis of the one or more connection measurements or the one or more radio link failure reports; 
 in response to the identifying, disabling a second MRO function corresponding to the second node to enable modification of handover parameters at the second node; and 
 in response to the disabling, modifying the target parameter to facilitate the handover to the second node by modifying the message exchange timing at the second node to execute the handover. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying further comprises:
 updating a handover timing range at the second node. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying further comprises:
 reconfiguring a handover parameter at the second node. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 altering a target node from the second node to a third node, such that the UE performs a handover from the first node to the third node. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more connection measurements include a handover timing measurement and wherein the modifying further comprises:
 synchronizing a communication timing of the second node with the UE. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first node and the second node are nodes of a 5G Self-Organizing Network (SON). 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more network slice specifications at the second node; 
 applying the one or more network slice specifications to an automatic network slice instance (NSI) creation function; and 
 instantiating one or more network functions according to the automatic NSI creation function to create an NSI. 
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus, comprising:
 radio front end circuitry; and 
 processing circuitry coupled to the radio front end circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 identify a user equipment (UE) performing a handover from a first node to a second node; 
 apply a first mobility robustness optimization (MRO) function to identify a target parameter corresponding to the handover, wherein the target parameter includes a message exchange timing corresponding to messages exchanged between the UE and the second node to execute the handover; 
 monitor, using the radio front end circuitry, one or more connection measurements and one or more radio link failure reports corresponding to the handover; 
 identify the handover as failing to meet the target parameter based on an analysis of the one or more connection measurements or the one or more radio link failure reports; 
 in response to identifying the handover as failing to meet the target parameter, disable a second MRO function corresponding to the second node to enable modification of handover parameters at the second node; and 
 in response to disabling the second MRO function, modify the target parameter to facilitate the handover to the second node by modifying the message exchange timing at the second node to execute the handover. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein to modify the target parameter, the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 update a handover timing range at the second node. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein to modify the target parameter, the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 reconfigure a handover parameter at the second node. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 alter a target node from the second node to a third node, such that the UE performs a handover from the first node to the third node. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more connection measurements include a handover timing measurement and wherein to modify the target parameter, the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 synchronize a communication timing of the second node with the UE. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first node and the second node are nodes of a 5G Self-Organizing Network (SON). 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: receive one or more network slice specifications at the second node;
 apply the one or more network slice specifications to an automatic network slice instance (NSI) creation function; and 
 instantiate one or more network functions according to the automatic NSI creation function to create an NSI. 
 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of network slice specifications from respective mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) systems; 
 applying the plurality of network slice specifications to an automatic network slice instance (NSI) creation function; 
 instantiating one or more network functions according to the automatic NSI creation function to create an NSI for each of the plurality of network slice specifications from the respective MVNO systems; and 
 automatically creating another NSI in response to detecting that additional resources are needed to support a connectivity requirement specified in a network slice specification, wherein the automatically creating further comprises:
 reconfiguring a network function of the one or more network functions to satisfy the connectivity requirement. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more network slice specifications includes a quality of service (QoS) indication. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the NSI includes a 5G Core Network Network Function (5G CN NF), a Next Generation NodeB Central Unit (gNB CU), and a Next Generation NodeB Distributed Unit (gNB DU). 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the instantiating further comprises:
 generating one or more new network functions not previously created. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the instantiating further comprises:
 reconfiguring a preexisting network function. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 interworking with a transport management system to allocate transport resources for the NSI.